Outing Senate Dems Resisting Filibuster Reform

I'm so angry that Senate Dems are backing off serious filibuster reform. MSNBC's Ed Schultz was blowing a gasket about it on his show tonight. I'm wondering why he and other pundits haven't more vociferously outed the democrat Senators who are upholding the status quo. Don't the constituents of Sens. Levin and Schumer want filibuster reform? Shouldn't they be inundating their offices with phone calls? What is the real story behind Senate Dems' refusal to support meaningful reform? Henry Reid said one of his biggest mistakes was not instituting filibuster reform the last time he had the chance. What am I missing? Enlighten me.

I saw how upset Ed Schultz was last night too, but it seems like it is all for nought. I mean even if Senate Democrats passed this filibuster reform, does ANYONE believe the House would do the same? Remember who controls the House. If it could happen, it would be wonderful for the country, but I just don't see how it could.

I agree with you missjody, but I believe one of the main reasons that the Democrats aren't pushing too hard to revamp the filibuster is because they are scared about what powers they would have if they happened to find themselves in the minority in the future. As much as I'd like to see the Democrats in the majority forever, we all know that most likely won't be happening.

As much as I would like to see genuine filibuster reform, I think that the Republicans have now opened up a Pandora's box with regards to it. Republicans have used the filibuster so much, that the Senate Democrats have taken notice and will surely want to be able to do the same thing whenever they find themselves in the minority again. The woefully inadequate "agreement" that Senator's Reid and McConnell came to pretty much cements gridlock in our Congress for the foreseeable future.

I am outraged that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid did not support the filibuster changes he had handed to him by Senators Merkley and Udall! As a Lifelong Liberal Mormon Kennedy Democrat I am personally offended and down-right enraged. I demand an adequate explanation; because right now he appears to be a traitor to the party, the administration, and most of all to those of us whom sacrificed all we had to support the democrats in this last election. We were all so worried for so many months about the Koch brothers and the Banksters using the Citizens United decision to buy this election or the Republican State legislatures jury-rigging the voting rules. What did we work for?
How can he and the others who didn't vote to change the filibuster rules sufficiently to get the backlog of appointments and other legislation through, after the last four years. It is inexcusble to me, and I ask that the President, or whomever has the power to demand Senator Reid to resign!
I'm particularly hurt and feel betrayed because I am also a Mormon! And let me tell you, if you don't realize what kind of peer pressure a Liberal Mormon feels, then let me set it to you. All of my children, my siblings and the valley where I grew up in voted for Romney despite my pleadings and exhortations. Some even called President Obama their "Coon" president, for which I feel the Church should have disfellowshipped them for. And here we have a Mormon Senator in a position to help our President to thwart those who would have seen our President be a one term President and all those lemmings of the Mormon faith who "Seig Heil" to Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck. What does our Senate Majority Leader do? He capitulates to that sour-puss face Mitch McConnell and obstructs the one chance we had to remedy the Senate rules so some things at least can get done!
Why? Who has the leverage to make him cave in like that, and what for? I get requests all the time for donations; and living on disability income only leaves me litttle to contribute. So now he has given the Republicans more power to continue destroying the New Deal and remain haughty and proud to march to the Koch Brother's ideology.
Senator Reid; I want an explanation from you, personally! Is this what Jesus would have done? May God have mercy on your traitorous soul!
Very seriously,
Willard Harris Mickelson

Hi jaredsxtn. I do understand why Senate Democrats would want to keep the filibuster in place so that they could use it when they are in the minority, but reform would have kept the filibuster alive and well. The talking filibuster or something akin to it would have brought accountability to the process. If, for example, a Republican Senator filibustered legislation that was supported by a large majority of the American public, the public would know who was blocking their will and could hold that person and his or her party accountable. I also have heard the argument that now is not the time for filibuster reform because the House Republicans are going to block Obama's agenda anyway. That does make sense to me. But there also is the important matter of the health of our Democracy. The abuse of the filibuster undermines big D Democracy. I view filibuster reform as an important step toward restoring Democracy. So basically I still think it was a mistake and I'm still pissed off.

missjody, like I said above, I sure agree with you. I saw the same thing as you about regardless wether or not this filibuster reform was passed in the Senate, it definitely would not have survived in the House, so it was all a moot point. I guess Harry Reid saw that and at least got "something" (although quite minor) out of the Republicans, hoping to "get by" for now and live to fight another day. I sure hope his reasoning is sound, and that things work out in the long run.

I guess all you guys do not realize that politics remain "politics" ; all of these elected persons have only one goal in mind; first not to loose their seat, second if they ever decide or do something, what is in it for me. Mormons or not, they are a bunch of hypocrits anyway, does not matter."Religion" nor "jesus" does not play any part into this "political game" except if the Mormons shove money their way. So get real, these are people who play their own games and just as a convience forgot who elected them. The only prayers they make is for more influence and money, but
thankfully no one "whatever is up there" hears them anyway.